lean in

verb

leaned in; leaning in; leans in

intransitive verb

: to persevere in spite of risk or difficulty

Then there's the racial justice crisis and making sure that we are leaning in during this time of recovery and crisis into the very important conversations around diversity and inclusion.

—Laura Fuentes, quoted in Washington (D.C.) Business Journal

Attending college began as a time of "leaning in," because it took courage to attend a large campus without much parental support and no friends attending with me.

—Sue Nokes

Examples of lean in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And if your side leans in on forgiveness and understanding, then prepare to get your clock cleaned. —Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2025

Here are three compelling reasons banks are leaning in: New Distribution Channels: By embedding their services into digital platforms, banks can reach more customers without opening new branches or launching expensive marketing campaigns. —Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Inside, Harry took his seat with a notepad and bottle of water in front of him, occasionally leaning in to confer with Afia during the high-profile hearing before three senior judges. —Simon Perry, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025

This can include leaning in for physical contact or even jumping up just to get your attention. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lean in

• renin
• carrageenan
• catenin